How to Win at Monopoly Deal

Houses and hotels are not necessary for victory in Monopoly Deal.

Monopoly Deal is an addictive little card game put out by Parker Brothers. For less then $6, this game provides excellent residual value and addictive, fast-paced gameplay. The rules are simple, so you can begin playing in about five minutes, and once you start playing, you won't want to stop. Though the game is simple, you can use several key strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Things You'll Need

• Monopoly Deal game

Instructions

1. Build a bank roll before playing any property. Because victory in Monopoly Deal requires completing three color groups, and your properties have assigned monetary value that you can use to pay debts, it is imperative that you have cash on hand prior to playing properties, or you will end up yielding your property to pay the debts you accumulate in the game.

2. Consider playing zero, one, or two cards in a turn. Monopoly Deal rules state that you can play up to three cards in a turn, but you do not have to play any. Instead of putting at risk key properties without having sufficient money to protect them, it is sometimes to your advantage to play fewer cards on your turn. In addition, you may determine that some cards are too valuable to be played onto the board at all, regardless of how much money you have. If you have Boardwalk and Park Place in your hand, it may be better to hold onto one or both of those cards until you can use them in a way that will ensure you win the round.

3. Avoid completing sets until you can complete three in one turn to win the game. Because you can lose an entire set when your opponent plays a "Deal Breaker" card, you must guard your complete sets. Without complete sets, you cannot win at Monopoly Deal, and your only other option is saving your "Just Say No" cards to cancel a "Deal Breaker." Since the "Just Say No" cards are rare, it is safer to simply refrain from completing sets until you can complete three in a single turn, ending the game.

4. Maximize your rent value by using wild cards. Since you can swap wild cards in and out of color groups, it is possible to "complete" a color group using a wild card, play a rent card to collect the higher rent value for a completed color group, and then transform your wild card into another color to guard against the "Deal Breaker" card.

5. Use rent cards and other fee-inducing cards to cause your opponent to surrender property. Since all property has a monetary value in Monopoly Deal, if you are able to create enough debt for your opponent in a single turn, he will have no choice but to surrender some of his property to you. Always try to use your rent cards and other debt-creating cards in this way. The one or two properties you are able to take in this manner may end up being the properties that you need to complete your color groups, or they may prevent your opponent from winning the game. You can't win Monopoly Deal with money, so get property whenever you can.